This past Saturday, an old friend came to visit and suggested we go on a local hike. But being my boujee self, I decided local would be boring. I wanted to discover a new spot.

I’ve ridden through the area on horseback plenty of times over the years, but I’d never explored it on foot. That made it feel like a brand-new adventure.

So, we headed to Fairy Stone State Park, a mere 40 miles away. I confidently chose an ambitious 3.5-mile trail, mostly because the description promised a waterfall and a couple of scenic overlooks. What could go wrong?

Getting to the waterfall, which looked more like a rock wall with good intentions, was a breeze.

Then came the climb to the overlook.

This was the point on our hike that I was seriously questioning every life choice that had led me to this mountain.

The trail seemed determined to go straight up. My legs were reminding me that I’m not twenty anymore, and the ice cream waiting at the end felt very far away. Every time I thought we had surely reached the top, another incline appeared around the bend.

But conversation with an old friend changed everything.

We laughed about old memories, caught up on life’s latest chapters, and somehow picked up right where we had left off. As the climb grew steeper, I kept hearing, “You’ve got this” and “We’re almost there.” One step at a time, one conversation at a time, the miles passed beneath our feet.

Eventually, we reached the overlook, and the view was worth every uphill step. From there, it was mostly downhill sailing toward what had become my primary motivation: ice cream.

Somewhere between the dry waterfall, the steep climb, and the well-earned scoop of ice cream, I was reminded that this hike had quietly become a lesson.

The path isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s steeper than we expected. Sometimes we question why we started in the first place. But good friends have a way of helping us keep going when we’d rather quit. They remind us that we’re stronger than we think, encourage us through the hard stretches, and make the journey a lot more enjoyable.

Of course, every adventure is better with a loyal sidekick, and Scooby made sure there were plenty of extra smiles along the way.

Because in hiking, and in life, the sweetest rewards often come after we’ve pushed through the hardest climbs. 🥾🍦🐾